Milton Keynes Lightning goaltending duties are in safe hands as we welcome back Jordan Lawday to the squad.  21 year old Jordan will be starting his third MK season after stepping up from MK Thunder to join Lightning at the beginning of last year.  He made 37 appearances and posted a 89.8% save percentage.   His strong 2019/20 season was unfortunately interrupted mid-way through the year by an injury as Lightning Head Coach Lewis Clifford explains: “Jordan had a bit of a stop start season last time round, but he showed in his performances why he’s so highly thought of in UK hockey circles. Since I first coached Jordan in the under 15’s I have seen him develop, improve and grow, and get better every year.”   Jordan himself felt his disrupted season affected his consistency a little, and is keen to get back at it: “I personally didn’t perform how I wanted to last year but it’s been a long summer of training [...]

“Kovy is a massively popular player in the room, a team first guy who isn’t out for personal stats or accolades.  He just wants to win.”  These are the words of Milton Keynes Lightning Head Coach Lewis Clifford speaking about the return of fan favourite Robin Kovar to the squad for the 2020/21 season.   Robin joined Lightning midway through last season from Bracknell, and had an immediate positive impact picking up 4 assists in his first game, on his way to 14 goals and 36 points in just 18 games.  His effect on the team was instant and long lasting, as Cliff explains: “Of all the changes we made last season, the biggest turning point in our fortunes for me was when we signed Kovy, who is a guy driven by success every day of his life both on and off the ice.”   It would have been an even great impact had Kovy’s season not been cruelly cut short when he sustained [...]

He’s one of the fastest players in the league and off the back of his best ever senior hockey points tally last year, we are thrilled that Rio Grinell-Parke will be pulling on a Lightning jersey again this upcoming season.  21 year old London born Rio appeared 45 times last year, amassing 13 goals and 29 points as well as 79 PIMs.  A favourite amongst many supporters for his work ethic, game impact and attitude, as well as his exceptional skating pace, this is sure to be a very popular signing amongst our fans. We caught up with Lightning Head Coach Lewis Clifford to get his views on Rio’s signing.  He started by praising Rio’s work-rate on the ice: “Rio is a pleasure to have as part of the team.  He is a player who has 2 settings, off and on, and on means 100% every time he steps foot on the ice. 99% isn’t in his vocabulary.” Early on in our season it [...]

The firepower continues to build for MKL as we welcome Bobby Chamberlain to the Lightning roster. 25-year-old Bobby joins us from Hull Pirates where he spent the previous 3 seasons, in a career that primarily centres around Hull teams, but which includes over 80 EPIHL games for MKL where he picked up 69 points. Bobby scored 37 goals and 71 points in 37 appearances in 2019/20 earning him 9th spot in the overall league scoring charts. This is a thrilling signing for MKL as Head Coach Lewis Clifford explains: “Bobby is a huge character and someone who I’m very excited to have in a MKL shirt when the season starts." "Over the last few seasons, his offensive stats have spoken for themselves, but that really is only a small part of the package we have brought him here for. He is a guy who will do whatever is needed for the team, whether it’s scoring an important goal, opening up space for his line [...]

The depth and experience in the defensive lines of MK Lightning continue to build as we are delighted to share with you the return of Ross Green for another MKL season.  Ross made 42 appearances last year picking up a goal and 12 assists and 42 penalty minutes in a string of strong and consistent performances in the team.  Now 28, Green - known to his team mates as Sloth – is continuing his long run as an MK hockey man in a career which started in the MK Storm junior system.  Proof to all of today’s juniors that you can make it too! MKL Head Coach Lewis Clifford paid tribute to Sloth’s long-term MK career saying “It’s great to have Sloth back on the team, a guy who knows exactly what it means to be an MK Lightning player and another one of our homegrown crew.” It’s a long term working relationship that Cliff has had with Sloth, whose family are also a [...]